Witches hats have long been associated with witches and the supernatural. These distinctive hats are often depicted as tall and pointy, with a wide brim. But where do witches hats actually come from? The origin of the witch hat can be traced back to Europe in the Middle Ages. During this time, there was a lot of fear and suspicion surrounding witchcraft. People believed that witches could communicate with evil spirits and perform black magic. To differentiate themselves from regular people, witches started wearing special clothing, including pointed hats.
If the historical witch was really just a medieval Jew, and the historically accurate witch costume is little other than antisemtism, what does that mean for us? Is it wrong to wear a historically accurate witch hat? Is your witch cosplay hurting people? Honestly . . . it might be. While I see nothing wrong, with enjoying witch history facts, the actual history of the witch trials shows us just how much antisemitism was involved in this outfit. I don't think we need to stop dressing up in witch costumes altogether, but I do think we need to be more aware of the history of the witch costume and the stereotypes we're giving life to when we wear it. If you’re curious about that history, you can find a full bibliography on my Patreon, including all my research notes! It’s important that we don’t forget the prejudices that shaped our world. Unfortunately, these stereotypes are not a long-past part of witchcraft history because they are still hurting Jews today.
I have no strong feelings on the pointy hat as you can see, I own one but that s just one Jew s opinion, and the saying ask two Jews, get three opinions doesn t exist for nothing. This sort of thing was considered as a mark of valour and a character-building challenge to which one could only rise with honour or sink with shame in the playgrounds of the early Thatcher years.
To differentiate themselves from regular people, witches started wearing special clothing, including pointed hats. The hats were seen as a symbol of their connection to the spiritual world. The exact reason for choosing a pointed hat is unclear, but there are a few theories.
Today I Discovered The Racist Origins Of The Pointy Witch Hat
Why do witches wear tall pointy hats? You’ve probably never questioned it through years of Harry Potter and Hocus Pocus, but it has to have come from somewhere, right? As it turns out, that hat’s probable origin, like a lot of human history, is pretty racist.
While witches and their aesthetic are pretty trendy these days, that wasn’t always the case. You don’t have to go back too far in history to reach a point where witches were associated with all things vile and despicable – most prominently the Prince of Darkness, Satan himself.
And, going back even further, witches were not the only group to be associated with Satan by the Christian church, either. Another group commonly accused of consorting with the devil during the Middle Ages were Jewish people.
During this time, a version of the ‘satanic panic’ of the 1980s existed in many European Christian countries, though at that time it was Jewish people who were considered the culprits. Starting around the 12th century it was a common belief that Jewish people possessed magical powers gained from deals with the devil.
Jewish people were often accused of murdering Christian children in grisly sacrifices that mocked the Christian Eucharist.
So what does this have to do with pointy hats? Before the more well-known yellow badge that denoted a person was Jewish in the Middle Ages, a type of cap called a judenhut or Jewish hat was often worn to signify someone was Jewish.
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While initially Jewish people brought this fashion with them as they immigrated and wore it with pride, later they were forced to wear the caps to make sure they were distinguishable from the Christian population.
The judenhut takes a lot of different forms, some with a skinny peak with a ball on top, but others look almost exactly like the witches hats we know today. So when Jewish people were depicted in medieval art taking part in Satanic rituals, they often wore these pointy hats – sometimes even the devil was depicted in one himself.
Another common artistic motif was a scene of Jewish people being burned alive – again, wearing their pointed hats, and again a scene that is also common to that of witches.
The hats themselves were sometimes seen as demonic in themselves – their Latin name pilleus cornutus or ‘horned skullcap’ directly links the style of hat to the Horned One himself, and horns were one of the easiest shortcuts for depicting something as demonic.
That being said, the pointed hat wasn’t regularly connected to witchcraft until centuries later, but it’s likely that the anti-Semetic imagery that persisted through the centuries was a strong influence on this symbolic choice.
The tall pointed hats we associate with witches in pop culture were first worn by women hawking homemade beer.
One theory suggests that the hat represents a cone of power, which is a focus for the witch's energy and spells. Another theory suggests that the hat resembles a horn, which is associated with power and magical abilities. Regardless of the exact reason, the witch hat quickly became a symbol of witchcraft. It was often worn during rituals and gatherings, and it became an iconic image in popular culture. Over time, the hat became a staple in Halloween costumes and other depictions of witches in literature and movies. Today, the witch hat continues to be a popular symbol of witches and the supernatural. It is often used as a decorative item during Halloween, and it is instantly recognizable as a symbol of witches. Whether you believe in witchcraft or not, the witch hat remains an enduring symbol that has stood the test of time..
Reviews for "The Surprising History of Witch Hats and Their Connection to Witchcraft"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Where do witches hats come from". The storyline was weak and the characters were underdeveloped. The book lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader. Additionally, the writing style was quite bland and lacked creativity. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and uninteresting read.
2. Ben - 1 star
I couldn't even finish reading "Where do witches hats come from". The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow along. The main characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or personality. The writing was also quite poor, with numerous grammar and spelling mistakes. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
3. Olivia - 2 stars
"Where do witches hats come from" had a promising concept, but unfortunately, it fell short in execution. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked any real excitement or suspense. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unresolved. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.
4. Ethan - 1 star
I found "Where do witches hats come from" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. The writing was repetitive and lacked any descriptive language, making it hard to visualize the scenes. The characters were also uninteresting and failed to hold my attention. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.